Do Something

Be a better Philadelphia Citizen

One of the founding tenets of The Philadelphia Citizen is to get people the resources they need to become better, more engaged citizens of their city.

We hope to do that in our Good Citizenship Toolkit, which includes a host of ways to get involved in Philadelphia — whether you want to contact your City Councilmember about investing in the Market East corridor, get those experiencing homelessness the goods they need, or simply go out to dinner somewhere where you know your money is going toward a greater good.

Find an issue that’s important to you in the list below, and get started on your journey of A-plus citizenship.

Vote and strengthen democracy

Stand up for marginalized communities

Create a cleaner, greener Philadelphia

Help our local youth and schools succeed

Support local businesses

Connect WITH OUR SOCIAL ACTION TEAM



Where SEPTA Development is Happening

In Northwest Philadelphia

In December 2024, Germantown-based developer Ken Weinstein (known for Jumpstart, a real estate and home renovation training program featured in The Citizen), struck a deal with SEPTA to lease and renovate five rail stations in Northwest Philly — Tulpehocken, in Germantown, Carpenter, Mt. Airy, and Upsal in Mt. Airy ,and Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill. Weinstein, who already did something similar with Richard Allen Station, where he operates the High Point Cafe, plans to improve existing station buildings and add individualized residential and commercial facilities where it makes sense. Read more about the plan in the Chestnut Hill Local.

Cheat Sheet

How to boost SEPTA ridership

Encourage the development of more housing near high-quality transit infrastructure to increase population density to match other parts of the city with similar levels of transit service. One way to do this: Enable more “missing middle” housing — such as duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings that provide medium densities often absent in new construction. Also enable transit-oriented development, which focuses on encouraging larger projects — apartment complexes, offices buildings, or mixed-use developments — near transit stations to maximize transit accessibility for residents and businesses.

Guest Commentary

The Answer to SEPTA’s Funding Woes?

Philadelphia’s struggle with transit cuts should spur reform in another area in need of attention: Housing. A housing policy expert shares ideas Philly should steal from around the country

Guest Commentary

The Answer to SEPTA’s Funding Woes?

Philadelphia’s struggle with transit cuts should spur reform in another area in need of attention: Housing. A housing policy expert shares ideas Philly should steal from around the country

SEPTA riders — and businesses that rely on them — recently celebrated Gov. Shapiro’s decision to redirect some state highway funds to address the transit agency’s budget shortfall. While this move provides a temporary financial lifeline, it only secures SEPTA’s operations through the end of spring. Beyond that, the state legislature must develop a long-term solution to avoid devastating cuts to a network that supports 32 percent of Pennsylvania’s population and 42 percent of its economic activity.

To boost ridership and fare revenue as SEPTA recovers from the impacts of Covid, Philadelphia’s leaders should prioritize supporting the agency’s operational health by encouraging the development of more housing near its high-quality transit infrastructure. This could bolster ridership on two of the most vulnerable regional rail routes — Chestnut Hill East and West lines, which connect the Chestnut Hill and Germantown neighborhoods to Center City — simply by increasing population density to match other parts of the city with similar levels of transit service.

According to SEPTA’s data, the Chestnut Hill East and West lines rank at the bottom half of regional rail routes for riders per mile and near the bottom for total ridership. In recent years, they have been excluded from so-called “doomsday” maps outlining what service would be maintained following possible budget cuts — leading local riders understandably worried about the fate of this service.

Population density in the census tracts surrounding the Chestnut Hill lines is just 7,800 people per square mile, significantly lower than the 10,600 people per square mile near other regional rail stations in Philadelphia. It also falls short of the 10,000 people per square mile researchers recommend to sustain adequate ridership for frequent rail transit.

If new residents along the Chestnut Hill lines were as likely to use the train as current residents, increasing population density in these areas to 10,600 people per square mile could boost both ridership and financial cost recovery by roughly 35 percent. This is, of course, just a modest and demonstrative example along just two lines: More aggressive and more widespread land use liberalization across the whole system could grow ridership and financial performance in proportion to the boldness of the reform.

How should Philadelphia’s leaders achieve this goal? While the specifics are best left to local leaders and experts, proven strategies from other communities can serve as valuable models. One effective approach is enabling more “missing middle” housing — housing types such as duplexes, townhomes, and small apartment buildings that provide medium densities often absent in new construction. Encouraging this type of development near transit allows communities to grow organically while maintaining familiarity.

Over time, this approach can meaningfully expand housing supply. In Palisades Park, New Jersey, this strategy led to the construction of significantly more housing compared to neighboring communities, helping keep housing costs in check even as prices rose elsewhere.

Another effective strategy is transit-oriented development, which focuses on encouraging larger projects — apartment complexes, offices buildings, or mixed-use developments — near transit stations to maximize transit accessibility for residents and businesses. This has been implemented successfully in Arlington, Virginia, leading to a population growth of more than 60,000 people over 50 years — while significantly reducing traffic levels.

Station area zoning overlays can also ease land use regulations near transit stops for costly requirements like off street parking minimums, which can average $29,000 per space in a parking garage. Washington, D.C., has successfully implemented zoning overlays to lower parking requirements near Metrorail stations and some high-traffic bus stops.

By focusing on strategies that support SEPTA’s long-term health, Philadelphia’s leaders can strengthen the foundation of their transit system while improving access to opportunities and essential services — without straining other infrastructure or adding to traffic congestion. This would benefit the city, while also signaling to Pennsylvania state leaders that its largest city is committed to implementing meaningful reforms within its control to support SEPTA’s long-term fiscal health.


Andrew Justus is a housing policy analyst, who works on urban issues including housing, transportation, and infrastructure within the social policy team. Previously, he was an associate attorney at Sullivan & Barros, LLP where he worked on zoning and land use approvals for residential developments in Washington, D.C. Before moving to D.C., Andrew worked at the Detroit Land Bank Authority on mitigating public nuisances in residential areas as part of the agency’s legal team.

The Citizen welcomes guest commentary from community members who represent that it is their own work and their own opinion based on true facts that they know firsthand.

MORE ON SEPTA FROM THE PHILADELPHIA CITIZEN

 

PA Governor Josh Shapiro (center) with SEPTA workers during the November 2024 funding announcement. Photo by Commonwealth Media.

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at KL@thephiladelphiacitizen.org or call (609)-602-0145.